I'd like to hear ideas on what the best way to stop corruption would be. I put this in the Religion and Ethics forum because I don't care about what you think about a certain political party. Corruption exists in every organization. And to some degree in every person. So how do we stop and minimize it the best?

This is a tough one. You can say lobbyist but in some aspect they play a good role but of late not much.

Complete open books at any time could help.

True campaign reform. I mean No DOLLARS SPENT. I mean us tax payers are subsidizing NPR and the Post Office, why not all campaign ads and debates be on that network free, and leaflets sent out free twice for each candidate.

Doing away with absentee ballots completely, allowing Military to vote via whatever base installation they are assigned. Everyone else should register to vote in the state they live, if they are not going to be there...Oh FUCKING well they don't vote.

Not allowing any 3rd party organizations register to vote. If elderly or others cannot get to the DMV to pick up an application they are to call their local board of elections. They will mail one to them, if they cannot fill it out themselves, then they must request in writing as to why. Then I'm sure someone from the board of elections can take their sorry ass over to their house to help them fill it out.

The best way to control abuse of of power over time, interestingly, is the mortality of man. While it is very human to need to have something to look forward to, individually the end for each of us will be death.

While that preamble may have sounded a bit morbid, the concept of maturity really depends on our ability to see beyond our own mortality, and beyond our own pleasure, to see the beauty of the future that we build for others. Inversely, the abuse of power is the inability to see beyond our needs to satisfy the needs of the masses; to see beyond our own needs and insecurities to help others.

"Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely"
What can be done for the majority to deal with abuses of power?
How would the people take power back from corrupt leaders?
Assuming that the population is educated and mature, which is a big assumption, courage is required to face those in power.

Stand up and say NO. Just like a spoiled child, or an abusive husband, the enabler is really the abused. Don't take it lying down! Teach everyone you know that there's a certain truth in freedom and democracy, and stand up for your rights!

I'd like to hear ideas on what the best way to stop corruption would be. I put this in the Religion and Ethics forum because I don't care about what you think about a certain political party. Corruption exists in every organization. And to some degree in every person. So how do we stop and minimize it the best?

Click to expand...

Step 1. Make lobbying for a fee a capital crime...

Step 2. Move the bulk of political decisions closer to the people. At the very least, Congress-critters should be forced to be accessible and in the district they represent for at least 270 days a year and learn to use a phone to 'confer' with each other.

Wouldn't entirely solve the problem of corruption, but those two steps would stop some of the bleeding.

Now... the $64 question: How do you convince 535 money grubbing salesmen with law degrees that less is more?

This is a tough one. You can say lobbyist but in some aspect they play a good role but of late not much.

Complete open books at any time could help.

True campaign reform. I mean No DOLLARS SPENT. I mean us tax payers are subsidizing NPR and the Post Office, why not all campaign ads and debates be on that network free, and leaflets sent out free twice for each candidate.

Doing away with absentee ballots completely, allowing Military to vote via whatever base installation they are assigned. Everyone else should register to vote in the state they live, if they are not going to be there...Oh FUCKING well they don't vote.

Not allowing any 3rd party organizations register to vote. If elderly or others cannot get to the DMV to pick up an application they are to call their local board of elections. They will mail one to them, if they cannot fill it out themselves, then they must request in writing as to why. Then I'm sure someone from the board of elections can take their sorry ass over to their house to help them fill it out.

This is a tough one. You can say lobbyist but in some aspect they play a good role but of late not much.

Complete open books at any time could help.

True campaign reform. I mean No DOLLARS SPENT. I mean us tax payers are subsidizing NPR and the Post Office, why not all campaign ads and debates be on that network free, and leaflets sent out free twice for each candidate.

Doing away with absentee ballots completely, allowing Military to vote via whatever base installation they are assigned. Everyone else should register to vote in the state they live, if they are not going to be there...Oh FUCKING well they don't vote.

Not allowing any 3rd party organizations register to vote. If elderly or others cannot get to the DMV to pick up an application they are to call their local board of elections. They will mail one to them, if they cannot fill it out themselves, then they must request in writing as to why. Then I'm sure someone from the board of elections can take their sorry ass over to their house to help them fill it out.

I've had the un-priviledge of watching corruption up close more than once. How could it have been prevented?

* Election reform.

* Overhaul government accounting rules. You think public accounting allows for creative bookkeeping? It has nothing on government accounting.

* Protect and incentivise whistleblowers and make sitting idly by while Rome burns a crime after the fact. You want to be a government employee? Fine by me...but then you look after my money as if it were your own.

* Disenfranchise government employees. Do away with all forms of civil service,union, etc. Prevent nepotism through extremely strong standards for hiring, retention and discipline.

* Pierce governmental immunity and make corrupt or grossly negligent government employees personally liable for the harm or waste they cause.

* Provide standing to any citizen to sue for waste or harm, etc.

* End the revolving door between private industry and government employees. Theirs are not eligible to work for the government and they are not permitted to hire former government employees (or to use them as independent contractors).

* Eliminate almost all barriers to freedom of information, open meetings, etc. Freedom abhors secret proceedings.

* Prevent any government employee beyond the clerical level from remaining on the payroll beyond two terms. Or, alternatively, review the decision to retain an employee at least every eight years.

Useful Searches

About USMessageBoard.com

USMessageBoard.com was founded in 2003 with the intent of allowing all voices to be heard. With a wildly diverse community from all sides of the political spectrum, USMessageBoard.com continues to build on that tradition. We welcome everyone despite political and/or religious beliefs, and we continue to encourage the right to free speech.

Come on in and join the discussion. Thank you for stopping by USMessageBoard.com!